The Karen People From Burma

The Origin of Karen

• Descended from same ancestors as Mongolian People.

• They travelled all the way through China and entered Burma.

History

From there, migrated southwards and gradually entered the land now known as Burma/Myanmar about 739 BC

Believed that first settlers in this new land

named this land kaw-lah, meaning the Green Land

changed the name of the land to Kawthoolei, a land free of all evils, famine, misery and strife.

History Con’t

Mon were the next to enter this area, followed the Burmans,

Mon and the Burmans brought with them feudalism

The Burmese won the feudal war, and they subdued and subjugated all other nationalities in the land.

The Burmese Lords, Persecuted, tortured, killed, suppressed, oppressed and exploited the Karen

History Con’t

many Karen had to flee for their lives to the high mountains and thick jungles

1824 British entered Burma, the conditions of the Karens gradually improved

With the introduction of law and order by the Colonial Central Authority, the Karen began to earn their living without being hindered, and could go to school

In 1942, the Japanese invaded Burma with the help of the Burma Independence Army (BIA)

History Con’t

These BIA troops took full advantage of the situation by introucing that the Karen were spies and puppets of the British

With the help of the Japanese, they began to attack the Karen villages, using a scheme to wipe out the entire Karen populace

The Karen sent a Goodwill Mission to England in August 1946, to make the Karen case known to the British Government and the British people, and to ask for a true Karen State.

History Con’t

On January 4, 1948, Burma gotits independence from the

British. The Karens continued to ask for self-determination democratically and peacefully from the Burmese Government

The Request was Rejected the war with the Burmese

Gov’t has broke out since the 31st of January 1949.

What we have gone through for

just being the Karens

• Since the Civil war Burmese troops have used suppressive measures.

• Commit crime against humanity toward the ordinary citizens. Murder; extermination; torture; rape (used as a weapon); racial, or religious persecution and other inhumane acts..

• Situations such as these happening constantly throughout Kawthoolei and are causing a large number of Karens to leave their villages and take refuge along the Thai border

• Then, Third countries (Canada, US, Sweden, etc.)

Do justice and protection exist to the knowledge

of the Karens before they came to Canada?

• Burmese Government’s Atrocities.

• Forced Labor

• Constructing roads and shelters for the soldiers and carrying ammunitions.

• Conscript or kidnap local villagers living in a conflict zones; some of them have to be with the troops for months or never come back to see their families or loved ones.

• Extrajudicial Killing

• People were shot to death for just simply don’t have what the soldiers ask for (i.e.. Pigs, chickens, where the rebel groups are)

• Witnessed Children, parents, friends, relatives got abused by the authorities right in front of their eyes

• No access to proper Education and Health care

• Limited knowledge of service providers

• People in the refugee camp better off

• Remember, only hundreds benefit, there are millions

Language

three main Karen languages and many dialects. The Main types are S'ghaw(pronounced Skaw) Karen, Eastern Pwo Karen and Western Pwo Karen.

Around 1830, a written script for the Karen was created from the Burmese alphabet by an American Baptist missionary.

Do not refer to the Karen as Burmese. Ethnically, they are a completely different group and many will not even speak Burmese.

it is better to refer ethnic minorities in Burma by their ethnic group (Karen, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Karenni, etc.). It is a political reason that the ethnic groups don’t want to be referred as Burmese even though they are technically Burmese.

Culture

Status, Role Prestige Elders are respected as well as teachers, pastors, priests, monks

and those with education.

Many Karen have a cultural value of being quiet or less talkative.

Karen people normally would not say much in the presence of

elderly people. The younger Karen especially would hold on to

their thoughts in front of the older people as a sign of respect

and also as an indication of acknowledgement of the knowledge

and experience of the seniors.

Doctors have high social status so patients may not be comfortable questioning them or expressing dissatisfaction with their treatment. E.g..in the community.

Culture con’t

Greeting

In Sghaw Karen, people will say Good morning (Kaw Leh Ah

Gay), Good Afternoon (Ni Leh Ah Gay), Good evening (Ha

Leh Ah Gay) and Good Night (Na Leh Ah Gay).

Class room.

“N'aw May Wele Ha” which means “Have you Eaten Rice” is

small talk, akin to “How are you”

Show concerns about the well-being of friends,

neighbours, and guests. The elders taught the Karen that

never let friends, guests, even strangers go hungry or the

life of the family will be under a curse.

Culture

• Display Respect

• When you are walking by someone, you duck and bow your

head to be lower than others in the room especially if you

are walking between two people having a conversation. One

should avoid walking in front of those who are seated.

• The Karen have three known religious beliefs: Animism,

Buddhism, Christianity

• Men are honored in the home; however the women's

opinion is also well-respected. Usually the mother puts

aside meals for the father first before anybody in the

family touch the food to eat .

food

• The Karen people are highly skilled farmers. Crops

include rice, vegetables, corns, sesame and chilies.

It is not uncommon for neighbors to help one

another farm (cultivation, harvest).

• A typical Karen dish consists of rice with a variety of

vegetables and meat on occasion. (story)

• The Thai Burma Border Consortium provides all

refugees in camps along the border with a monthly

food ration.

Food ration (per month)

Rice 15kg /adult. 7.5kg /child <5 years

Flour 1 kg / person Beans 1 kg / adult. 750

gm / child < 5 years Cooking Oil 1 lt / adult. 500

ml / child < 5 years Fish Paste 750 gm /

person Salt 330 gm /

person Dried Chillies 125 gm /

person

A diet composed mostly of rice, salt, chilies, and some vegetables contributes to a lack of protein and vitamin deficiencies.

Karen Festivals

Karen Festivals

The Karen have many festivals through out the year. These festivals maybe political or based in Animism, Christianity or Buddhism.

The Karen New Year is based on the year when they entered Burma, BC 739, and is held on the first day of the month of Therlay in the Karen’s Calendar – in December or January in the Western calendar.

An annual wrist tying ceremony is held in August each year. The festival includes singing, playing, dancing, wrist tying activities and eating (Animism based)

Karen people in London

ChallengesLanguage Barriers (what prevent you to do what you want to

do?) It has become a big challenge for the Karen adults to be able to

read, write, and speak just a very simple English. A lot of them

have never received a formal education or never went to schools.

There is no schooling background that they can relate to what

they are learning now. Sense of Direction

E.g locating an address

Social Status

Roughly 89% of the Karens are on Social Welfare and unemployed.

Doesn’t mean that they are lazy. Particularly for the adults, if OW

gives them a choice; Jobs or ESL classes. Wage=Social welfare.

Which one do you think they will choose?

What we, as a service provider, should know to

create a positive relationship with the Karens

• Listen to them telling you about their stories

• Learn to ally yourself with the community.

• Ask question about their cultures, customs, and views

• Do not belittle their religions

Thanks for your attention!

Any questions????

Video…